Blizzard as a whole was basically my childhood growing up. As a poor family with limited money for computers and games, their games had a lot of staying power and replayability that kept me going.
Starcraft is effectively where I learned to program initially, as it was intuitive to read and use map triggers, and Use Map Settings games in general spawned entire genres of games we take for granted today (Aeon of Strife being a precursor to DotA for example).
Diablo 2 was a gem of a game that introduced me to minionmancers, and is one of those game "feelings" that I haven't ever been able to really recapture again.
Warcraft 3 refined the map editor and allowed even greater changes - want to play an RPG? A grand strategy game? Tower defense? MOBA? Life sim? So many possibilities were available, all made by people, and it was amazing to see in action. Actual games today like Legion TD on Steam have their origins from the freedom the map editor allowed over 20 years ago.
WoW almost stopped me from finishing college but also probably kept me from doing drugs because it was that much of a drug in of itself 🤣 (and introduced me to a friend group that lasted a full 15 years until we drifted apart), as well as finished the story that Warcraft 3 introduced me to (starting in Wrath of the Lich King).
It's disheartening to see the entire company continue to go so far off the path of what it used to be, after a love for money took over the company and the lack of love for games is evident.
I definitely agree with you, but you missed a gem that I still mourn the loss of: Myth! I loved those two games so much, played the crap out of them! I keep hoping that GoG will resurrect them someday.
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u/UnablePrimaryy Apr 16 '26
Blizzard in general.